Steebiwg appabattts



JESSE REED, or MARSHEIELD, MAssAoieuiSETTS.y

STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 5,242, dated August 14, 184;?.

To aZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, JESSE REED, ofMarshrv field, in the countyof Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, Vhave invented new and useful Improvements in Steering Apparatus or Wheels for Ships, &c.. and` that the following description taken. in connection with the accompanying drawings hereinafter referred to, forms a full and eXact specification of the same, wherein I have set forth the nature and principles of my said improvements, by which my invention may be distinguished from others for a similar purpose, together with such parts or combinat-ions as I claim, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent.

The figures of the accompanying plate of drawings represent my improvements.

Figure 1, is a plan and Fig. 2, isa longitudinal vertical'section taken in the plane of the line A B, Fig. 1;

The objection urged by ship-masters against the steering apparatus, recently invented and patented by me as well as to most of the steering Wheels now in general use is that they hold the rudder too stifliy or rigidly when a heavy sea strikes it on the side or when the bottom touches or is lifted by passing over a bar, and also that the several wheels make too much rattling or noise in moving. My improved apparatus effectually obviates these objections, and while it works the rudder by a very economical expenditure of power, suicient (easy and almost noiseless), play is allowed to the several parts to prevent any breakage from a sudden strain as above described. In the figuresf A A is the hand-wheel, b b the tiller, and c o the rudder-post, all of which parts are arranged in the usual way. The-movement of the rudder-post c c, is accomplished through the medium of one endless screw d, d, and the parts hereinafter described as connected therewith, to the front end of which screw the hand wheel a a is attached. The shaft of the wheel end of this screw rests and moves forward and back whenA revolved in a loose bearing j in the top of the stanchion e e, and said bearing may be made a Swivel or socket bearing, if necessary to accommodate the changing positions of the screw. This screw may be doubled or triple threadedv as may be deemed advisable, and the threads engaged with a proper screw out on the inside forward and back vwhenthe screw .cZ al is revolved.v The rear end of thev screw oZdl. has ahead g` which holds it, so that. itmay; revolve in the turning button It on` one side =of the rubber post, against a proper shoul, f- `der in which button saidhead g; bearsfas 4 shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. This button turns laterally either way on a pin z' in a Space .7c cut or formed in the metallic cap Z Z, which cap is firmly secured on the top of the rudder-post o c. The said pinfz' passes through the plates of the cap lZ Zand the button la, as shown in Fig. 2. A curved arm m m, is secured at its front end to the nut f, so as to turnl horizontally on the same by means of a fork n n which clasps said nut as shownin the figures. The rear end of said arm reaches or extends intothe space 7c on the sidev of the rudder-post opposite to Where the button L is placed, and said rear end is formed with a hole, through which a pin o passes and it turns on said pm in the same manner as the button z,

turns on its pin z'.

, The operation of the above-described mechanism is apparent, forwhen the wheel a a or screw Z dis turned to the left for instance, the front end of the screw will ad# Vance through its bearing j, and thereby pull around one side of the rudder-post, while at the same time and with equal motion, the nut f will recede frompsaid bearing toward the rudder-post, and through the medium of the arm m m will press on the opposite side of the rudder-post and assist the operation of the screw.

The wheel and screw being turned to the right the rudder will be moved in a lsimilar manner in the opposite direction, and it will be evident thatv the several'parts being joined together so as to turn freely as above described, will allow ysufficient play of the apparatus to prevent any accident from a sudden strain on and consequent springing of the rudder.

y of the nut f, whichnut also is free to move l nsy I It will also be apparent to any skillful l mechanic that the seat of action of the apparatus may be placedbehind the rudderpost, by continuing the screw through to the back side of the post and arranging the nut f and curved arm m m there, andbringing the wheel nearer to the front of said post. It Shouldbe observed as a distin uishing peculiarity of my apparatus that 1t has but one bearing (and that a loose one at which is: "noti connected with the rudder@ post, andv for this'reason more particularly when said post is raised, no breakage ofthe' parts will occur. y Y

Having thus described my improvements, I shall state my claim, as follows What I claim las ,myA invention and desireVV to have secured to me'by Letters-Patent isc the combination of an endless screw d d,

and its nut f, arrangedas above described, so as to move longitudinally forward and back, `with the button It (connected ptol `the I rudder head or acap on thesame), and the curved cam m m connected to said head or cap and to the nut f, `allvas above set forth and the arrangement of said parts as above described, so `asto have' but' one bearing extraneous to the rudder post and thereby pernmit said post to ride without breaking or deranging'ithe apparatus,` and also any ymechanical. devices, substantially the same, `and combined substantially in the same jmanner for forming a steering apparatus.

` testimony that ftherfo're'going is a true "description of my said invention,v I have ,heretoq set my signature, this seventh day ofAprihA. D.' 184,7, j L i i y I .EJESSEQREED' 'VVitnessesa' 1 y i, y i CALEBREED, i ,i ,i t A t x y VEZRA LINCOLN, Jr.f Y 1- 

